Faithful followers of Pasqualina may remember that by this time last year, she was already pregnant with (who we now know as) Pinta.

Pinta and Pasqualina

This year Pasqualina is decidedly without kid — by our choice. And it really has more to do with Pinta than Pasqualina.

I like to call the general rule for mating a female goat as “8 and 80.” That is, when she reaches eight months old and 80 pounds, she can be safely bred.

Pinta turned eight months old toward the end of November, which technically is still heat season, but I really don’t think she was up to 80 pounds. We didn’t weigh her, so I could be wrong, but she just *seems* quite a bit smaller than Pasqualina was when we bred her (Pasqualina was around nine months old). In any event, we just feel more comfortable waiting to breed her, so that’s what we’re going to do.

Caprine girls watching canine girls

We could have just bred Pasqualina, but that would have meant putting a (borrowed) buck in with Pasqualina and locking Pinta in another pen by herself to avoid any “accidents” with the buck. Yes, the pens are only separated by a see-through gate, but we figured not only would that be sad for Pinta, it would also be a little easier on us to have them both bred at the same time rather than staggered.

So the next breeding season will come early next summer, and the kids should arrive in November if, as we hope, all goes well. I’m already a little nervous about the weather being chilly for their delivery, although truth be told, daytime temps around here in November are usually still in the 70s — but there’s nothing like being a worrywart goat maaaa, right?

Anyway, for now, we just have our two girls, and they seem OK with that, don’t you think?

5 Responses to “A Fall Without Goat Breeding”

Nell

12.13.2010

HI michelle ,the other night I was watching” Its a wonderful life” and it was at the part were George and his wife are helping his Italian friend to move into his new home and out of Potters field, they are packing up the children in the back of George’s car and low and behold the last thing to go in a GOat, I never noticed this goat till last night. I’ve seen the movie a kajillian times.” Is that weird or What”

I ALSO THINK ITS BETTER TO WAIT ON BREEDING TILL PINA IS A LITTLE OLDER THAN TO DO IT TOO SOON, THIS WAY SHE’LL HAVE HER MOTHER EMULATE.
tHEY LOOK VERY CUTE IN THESE PHOTO’S.
yoUR A GOOD maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaOM

The girls are so pristinely beautiful in such a calm way. I feel you are smart with your decision Michelle, we would of done the same. Are you planning on keeping the babies? They are so much fun as you know!

Just wanted to let you know now that I feel I can write about it without getting too upset. We don’t have our kids anymore, after being hit in the face 5 times and the last time coming in with my face streaming with blood and a fat lip again, we felt it was better to find them a home. I value my face, teeth, eyes, nose, etc. more. It still makes us sad though and we miss them. The home they went too is wonderful and the people, such animal lovers. Be well and safe my friend and give those beautiful girls a hug from me will ya…thank you! xo

Oh I’m so sorry to hear this, Pam 🙁 Sorry for the fat lips too…were their horns getting you? We won’t be keeping babies…I think two are really our max at any given time so long as we don’t have more space for them to roam and such. So that will mean the cycle of emotions again next year…uffa.

Thanks Michelle! Yes, it was the horns. The babies were never aggressive…just very rambunctious…healthy though…which was good! We’ve had plenty of goats that had horns on, but never acted this way. Maybe in the spring we might get some nubians.

Do you have to breed them? I understand about the emotional thing…I never like that either. xo

No we don’t *have* to breed them, but I would like some milk…it’s a tough decision. Not *totally* decided yet either….

When Betty Lou was seven months old, I warned her about flicking her tail and flirting with Goliath, but she didn’t listen and he didn’t believe my gate. She had Ed without problems and the vets assured me that was about the usual age to breed, but I must admit I am more comfortable with them being older too. They grow so much through that second year.

Thanks for the support, Teresa; although I’m sure things would be fine, there’s just something about the thought of the size of the buck from last year being in the pen with Pinta that freaks me out!